Machine for making buttons



| H. BEAN lMACHINE FOR MAKING BUTTONS Filed Aug. s, 1922 2. sheets-sneet 1 elli-[Sofa w43- March 1', 1927.

L. HLBEAN` MACHINE FOR MAKING BUTTONS Filed Aug. 5. 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. l, 1927. i

UNI-TED STATES L noN H. BEAN, or" New YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T OLLANDEB-LANGEE, INC., A.

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE ORYMAKING- BUTTONS.

Applicatan filed August 3,1922. Serial No. 579,317.

Broadly considered, my present invention relates to machines for operating upon blanks and more particularly for simultaneously operating upon a plurality of blanks forA producing predeterminedly shaped articles in predeterminedtimed relationship.

While my present invention-has a wide range of usefulnessfinasmuch as it finds a l peculiar field of utility as an eicient apparatus for the rapid manufacture of buttons from materials such as hor-n, I will proceed to describe the invention as it in connection with a continuous process such as is employedfor the quality productionv of buttons.

As will be understood .as -the .description proceeds the objects operated on are preferably in the form of blanks and of a material which canbe molded in itsbroadest aspects., My invention comprises the shaping of the blankbypressure and in the preferred practice, heat is first applied to the blank so as to render it readily moldable under pressure, vand the pressure is then applied so that the blank `will begin to lose its heat during the application of pressure and will have cooled substantially upon the completion of such step which cooling will be materially assisted by the contact of the blank with pressure applying instrumentalities.

I have found that due to to the fact that the pressure must be Icontinued for an appreciable time so as to permit of the proper forming of the button and of the necessary cooling, the production per machine is small, and the result and cost of production high.

' Among invention therefore, are; the provision of a.

40 machine for operating simultaneously upon desired or preferred illustrated slidably supported a plurality of blanks in timed relationship; the provision of va machine so arranged and constructed that while one portion thereof is operating upon a blank, another portion thereof is in inoperative position; the provision of a machine for operating upona p plurality of blanks in cycles; the provlsio'n of a machine foroperating upon a plural- 'ity of' blanks simultaneously, so arranged and constructed that different portions of the machine bear 'different'timed relation-V ships with reference to each other` and with reference to the'blanks;, and the provision generally of@ '116W and @proved and.' simis utilized 10. These press with the die portions 14 on the lower surthe more importantobjects of in the member 16 carried by the pliied machine for manufacturing buttons.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as may appear to be pointed out hereinafter, I have illustrated one embodimentof my invention in the appended drawing wherein- Figure 1 isa front elevational view of the machine, partly broken away;

' line 2--2 Figure 2 is a section taken on lof Figure 1; and l Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1` Upon viewing Figure 1 it will be observed that in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the table or platform 10 of the machine 1s provided upon its upper surface with the die portions 11 in which are received the blanks 12 from which the button is to be formed or shaped, these .die portions 11 forming the lower surface .of the buttons. As will be observed, the platform is arrangedJ to support simultaneously six blanks, it being of course, understood that varied, it being shown merely for purpose of illustration. The blanks 12 are operate upon by the press plungers 13, one press plunger being provided for each blank holding a die portion 11 carried by the platform plungers 13 are provi-ded facetofform the upper face of the button and are further provided with the pins 15 adapted to form any desired number of perforations such as are generally found in buttons of this character. As will be understood the employment of die surfaces of any this number may be d so particular character is not essential nor is y the use of the hole punchers 15. c The plungers 13 are supported in any -manner for reciprocation, and are side supports v1'2' of the machine at a predetermined distance above the platform 10. Eachpress lunger 13 is provided at its upper end with a roller 18, arranged to rotate freely within the cutout portion 19 provided at such upper end of each of the press plungers.

As will be further observed upon viewing the various fi es ofthe drawings, anr upper cam shaft 20 is supported for rotation in a position preferably directly above the press plungers 13, 4this earn shaft 20 having affixed thereto a lurality of cams 21, one for each of the six press plungers,

six cams therefore being illustrated in the drawing, a cam being positioned above each press plunger. Each of these cams 21 has its perimeter 22 made concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 2O for substantially 300 degrees, the cam member 21 being cut away for Substantially degrees of its perimeter to form the depression or cut out 23.

In aiiixing these cams 21 to the cam shaft 20 they are arranged in staggered positions so that the out away portion 23 of each of the cams 21 is augularly offset from that of all the other cams. This is preferably done as can be observed upon viewing Figures 2 and 3-by arranging eachcut out 23 at an angle of 60 degrees from that of those on each side thereof.

The cam shaft 20 is driven by gear 25- which is aiiixed thereto, which in turn is driven by a gear 26 upon the main 'drive shaft, the gear 26 driving the gear 25 at a ratio of one to six. The gear 26 in turn is arranged to be 4driven from the pulley `27 b means of a clutch 28 controlled by the c utch lever 29, operated through the rod 30 by the treadle 31 and as illustrated is of a type so as to give the gear 26 one revolution upon each operation of the treadle 31, and at the end of such one revolution the clutch 28 'is automatically thrown out in a manner that is well known in this art.

From the description thus far given it will be understood vthat when the treadle 31 is operated the clutch 28 is engaged to give the gear 26 one revolution upon which the gear 25,-and with it the cam shaft 20 is given one'sixt-h of a revolution, in a manner and for purposesV that will shortly be pointed out. V-

A gear 30 of the same size as the gear 25 is in mesh with the gear 25 and in turn carries a lower cam shaft 31 upon which The cams 32 are also preferabl are carried a plurality of specially arranged lczm membersed32 therefor hshown, 1a' cam ing p 'tion opposite eac ress p unger. Supportii upon the machine Iirnd adjacent to each press plunger are a plurality of bell lcrank levers 33 loosel ivoted to the frame at 34, one end of eac jecting into a slot 35 formed in each plunger andv in which slot such 'end is loosel ivoted. The other end 36 of the bell cran ever 33 is provided with a roller 37 arranged to be engaged by the adjacent cam member32` `when said cam member is moved past the roller. v

arranged Y 1n staggered relation each cam )scent cams. It will 4be further unl1 crank lever progage in the cut away portion 23 of the cam 21 immediately thereabove.

As will be observed upon viewing Figure 1, after each operation of the t-readle the machine will be somewhat as shown in Figure 1 with live of the plungers down and .one up. Assuming, therefore, the machine in the position of Figure 1, the operation of the treadle of Figure 1 will cause a single revolution of the ear 26 which, in turn, will cause one-sixth oi; a revolution of the upper cam shaft 20 and a similar one-sixth of a revolution of the lower cam shaft 31.

This single operation of a treadle will therefore cause each of the cams 21 to move angularly for 60 degrees thus moving that cam 2l which appears on the extreme left of Figure 1 to a position where the concentric portion 22 of the cam 21 is brought into engagement with the wheel 18 of the plunger 13 to force said plunger down into contact with a blank which has been in the meanwhile positioned therebeneath.

While this shift of the mechanism on the extreme left is taking place, it will be understood from the description thus far given that the movement of four of the cams will produce no change except to bring a new portion of the concentric surface 22 of each into engagement with its contacting roller without, however, permitting or causing any changein the position of the roller 18 or of the plunger 13 which carries said roller.

The sixthl and remaining cam 21 will,l1ow ever, upon said movement angularly for 60 degrees, be caused 'to bring into co-action with its opposed or co-acting roller 18 the depressed portion 23'thereon thus permitting the plunger`13 to rise and to press the4 roller carried by it in this cut-out portion 23.

While this movement of the cams of 'the upper cam shaft is beingeffected with the results pointed out, the different cams 32 of the lower cam shaft 31 cach has been similarly moved, so that when the concentric portion of one cam 21 is brought into contactwith its co-acting roller 18 the cam 32 which co-acts with the plunger which carries said roller is moved out of the path of the bell crank lever which also forms part of the associated mechanism for operating one of the plungers and similarly when the depressed portion 23 of any cam 21 is brought into op itlon with a roller 18 the cam 32 which orms artl of the mechanism for this portion will be caused to contact with the of a relativelylong predetermined a number such thatA roller 37 carried b one end ofthe bell crank 33 to -raise that pliinger and hold it in this raised position. It will, of course be understood that the movement of thisfparticular cam 32 is brought to an end Whilethe cam is still inoperative Contact with the roller 37 so lthat. there is always one cani 32 which acts to maintain a plunger 13 in its raised position.

It will be understood that there is but one cam 32 and one cut-away portion 23 for each plunger 13 and that this cam and cut-away portion which co-operate with the same plunger are so constructed and moved aS to permit the roller 18 to move into the cutaway portion 23 as the plunger 13 which carries the roller is moved upwardly by its cam 32 through the bell crank lever 33.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for shaping articles in which each article requires the consumption of a relatively long predetermined period of time for thev completion of its shaping, a plurality of forming or vshaping members, one for each article, and means for operating the same successively in timed relation Without a waiting interval of time therebetween, and with each member stationary and active on the article for said relatively long predetermined period.

2. In a'machine for shaping articles in whicheach article requires the consumption period of time for its shaping, a plurality `of forming or shaping members, one for each article, the Said plurality of members being selected of i the same may be operated successively in .timed relationship without a waiting interval ofotime therebetween, and with each active on an article for the said relatively long predetermined period.

3. In a machine for shaping articles in i which each article is first heated and then mined period of i of members being selected of a number such shaped and cooled, each article requiring the consumption of a relatively longpredetertime for shaping and coolshaping and cooling meming, a plurality of article, the said plurality bers, one for eachthatthe same may be operated successi in timed relationship without a Waiting-.fin-

and with each terval of time therebetween,

. active on an article for the said relatively time for the completion of its Shaping,

with eac member stationary and active onA long predeterminedperiod.

4:.'In a machine for shaping articles in which each article requires theu consumption of a relatively long predetermined period of a lurality of forming or shaping members,pone for each article, and means for operating the same successively in timed relation without a waitind interval of time therebetween, and

lthe article for said predetermined period and means for moving each member to inoperashaft and a plurality of ticle at the end ofl such relatively long predetermined period.

f5. A machine for shaping articles comprising a plurality of `haping members including die members removable into and out of operative position, means for bringing the same into operative `position in successively timed relation comprising a rotatable cams operated thereby and angularly positioned with reference to eacli other, a main shaft and means for operating said first shaft to cause one of the cams to inove one of the die elements into operative position upon each revolution of said main shaft.

6L In a machine for molding buttons from blanks, in which each button requires the consumption of a relatively long .predetermined period oftime for the completion of its shaping, a plurality of button-forming members, one for each blank, the said plurality of members being selected of a number such that the same may be operated successively in timed relation wthout a waiting'interval of time therebetween, and with each active yon 'a button for the said relatively long predetermined period.

7. In a machine for molding buttons from blanks, in which each button requires the consumption of a relatively long predetermined period oftime for its shaping, a plurality of female die members adapted to vreceive the blanks fed thereto, a. plurality of male die members cooperable therewith, and means for opera ing the same successively in timed relation without a waiting interval um A of time therebetween, and with each stationo ary and active on a button atively long predetermined period.

8. A machine. for shaping articles, comprising a plurality of shaping members including die elements movable into and out of operative position, means for moving the same into operative position in successively timed relation, and

y ions for moving the same out of oper position, the said for the said rel- .A

means and provisions'comprising a pluralimale die element, a second cam shaft, and of angularly SPaCed .Cams there.;

a plurality on, cooperating with the first mentioned'- female die elements and male die ele- H cams and,l with the male die elements" to 5.13

move the latter out of said operative position.

1 0. A machine for shaping articles comprising a plurality of shaping members including movable plunger elements and operating means therefor, including a shaft, a plurality of plun er actuating devices connected thereto, an means whereby a single revolution of the shaft will produce an operation of one of said plunger elements.

11. A machine for shaping articles comprising a plurality of shapin members and operating means therefor, inc uding a shaft,

a plurality of cam elements angularly arranged thereon, and operative 1n a single revolution of the said shaft for actuating all of the shaping members into operative position, asecond shaft o eratively connected to said rst mentione shaft, and means whereby a singlerevolution of said second 20 shaft moves one of said shaping members to operative position. y v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

LEON H. BEAN. 

